Male breasts at puberty - gynaecomastia

As if puberty is not hard enough on guys - going through all those changes! Your voice breaks, you grow facial hair and then it seems as though you might be growing breasts. What's going on?

Many normal, healthy young men get some growing of breast tissue – about 65% of 14 year olds.

The hormones that cause all of the other changes in puberty cause this too.

Gynaecomastia is the medical term for breast tissue growing on a male (guy-nee-ko-mass-ti-a).

Breast tissue growth for older males can be caused by other health problems, or by medicines that are needed to treat some health problems – but these are not the cause of breast tissue growth for young males around puberty.

When a male is very overweight, he can have fat under the skin in the area of the breasts, and it can look like he has enlarged breasts. This is different to gynaecomastia, which is caused by hormone changes.

It starts like breast development does for girls, but it stops when it is still a small lump.

It does not keep growing.

Even though it might seem very obvious to you, most other people will not notice it. It should be hardly noticeable under your clothes.

If you are worried about how it looks when you take your top off, for example when you go swimming, wear a t-shirt. This will protect other parts of your body from getting sun burnt too, which is always good!

Anyone who has a worry about his health should talk to someone about it. A doctor can examine you and make sure that there is no other reason for the growth of the breast tissue. It is rare that any tests will be needed.

Your doctor will be able to answer any other questions you may also have.

Josh says:

"All guys going through puberty can feel a bit worried at times. If you think that you are growing breasts too, that could be way too much to cope with on your own! Check things out with your doctor. Don’t sit around worrying and wondering if something is wrong with you."